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116. Driving to SXSW
7 months ago
112. Have You Seen Me?
7 months ago
110. dis·sem·i·nate
7 months ago
108. Episode Seven: 64 Da…
8 months ago
102. Chloé
9 months ago
101. Charlie :)
9 months ago
99. Jackie O
9 months ago
97. Patton Oswald
10 months ago
96. Hard 'n Phirm
10 months ago
Feel free to check out the website: projectpedal.com

Read Blog: urltea.com/2ivz, Digg it: urltea.com/2plb, Subscribe: urltea.com/2j2o


As always, we'd love to hear your feedback - it will help greatly in deciding what questions to answer and in what order. Thanks for watching.
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96 Likes
  • mikehedge 8 months ago
    genius
  • mike ambs 8 months ago
    Thanks Mike - and yea, I noticed the interlacing you mentioned, somehow after I deinterlaced it in my .mov file it re-interlaced the Mp4 version :P

    I have a new version exported that I'll have to upload after sunday (when my weekly limit resets).
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  • JD 8 months ago
    Beautiful, great job guys.
  • mike ambs 8 months ago
    Thanks JD - and thanks again for the flying footage, it worked so well :)
  • Blake Whitman staff 7 months ago
    yeah, I'm curious about that. What was the rig?
  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    Hey Blake :)

    Hmm - the footage JD let me use was the airplane shot out the window... but I *think* you're talking about something else, right?
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  • DaVincicode 8 months ago
    Wow Mike congrats on finishing Part 2 or Episode
    "64 Days". First off it takes a lot of guts to do a movie. And to have your X Girlfriend (on Valentines Day) beside you to help is a testament to your fortitude and commitment to this film. Secondly you used what you had. Meaning any slide, picture or movie to capture what you wanted to say. Thirdly you made Larry and Jason real to us viewers. Which immediately captures our attention. And makes this for me one of best documentaries on Vimeo. Which is inspiring me to do upload my rockumentary. But this 2nd Part is a major accomplishment for you in showing you that you do have enough footage. And that the saying "keep it simple stupid" does work. Cause all of this is making yours as well as everyone involved in this project come true. I hope what I said inspires you to keep on with Part 3. Best..
  • mike ambs 8 months ago
    Wow :) Thanks so much for this comment.

    Yea - Amanda and I are hoping we do a decent job of explaining what exactly we went through (in ep8) to end up still doing this project together.

    As for content :P yes, we were a bit stretched thin on this episode, and because of time-restraints... we just had to use what we had.

    But especially thanks for the comment on making Larry & Jay seem real - that was the real goal of this episode for Amanda & I.

    You should upload your stuff :) I'd love to see it. And Amanda & I could never pull any of this off without comments like this - they really do keep us going when things get tough.
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  • Remyyy 8 months ago
    Emotions, amazing shots,... I'm always afraid of watching something "long" on the web. Your production don't let me see the time. I'm so so impressed by your shots of riding bike, no, impressed by everything. I really had emotions watching this and I really thank you for your work. Good luck, people of the world.
  • mike ambs 8 months ago
    Thanks so much! We were a bit worried about this episode's length - 14 min' turns a lot of people off, so hopefully this ep' does alright :P

    But your comment is great - thanks so much for saying those things. It keeps us going.
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  • Stephen Niebauer 8 months ago
    I can easily say that this project is one of the most captivating I have ever seen. You inspire me to no extent. Keep it up.
  • mike ambs 8 months ago
    That... is... very nice of you to say :) Thank you.
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  • Soft City Lights 8 months ago
    Even after writing you last night, I'm still compelled to tell you again what a great job you are doing.
  • mike ambs 8 months ago
    Thanks Kevin :)
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  • TheFemGeek 8 months ago
    I am so happy to be apart of this :)
  • mike ambs 8 months ago
    Amanda & I are so lucky to have someone like you, Tiff :)

    You're so helpful, generous, and just... awesome :) We can't thank you enough.
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  • Enric 8 months ago
    Beautifully shot and edited. The audio is a big muggy in the beginning but becomes clearer after about 1/3 in. Nice!
  • mike ambs 8 months ago
    Thanks Enric :)

    Is *all* the audio that way? Or just the voice-over or the music? I'll have to be careful about that with these episodes.
  • Enric 8 months ago
    The audio seems to be too much in bass and a bit muddy until about 6:48 when the treble and bass sound more distinct. I don't have a lot of experience with audio -- so not sure what would be happening to result in the differences. But the rest of the work is very well done.
  • mike ambs 8 months ago
    Hmm... the "muddy" part is probably just my voice :) it's never carried much further then 3 feet... the bass *might* be the song :P I need a sound person :)
  • Enric 7 months ago
    It's a wonderful video...I bet the audio will come up to the visuals in future vids.
  • 3d60 7 months ago
    Responding to your own comments on your voice over, If you roll off some bass, your voice and diction will be better. I found myself having to concentrate on the voice over, whilst also taking in and interpreting visual images and context.

    As per length. the content and style of your work, is so superb I want to see more of it.
  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    I'll try do that in the following eps' - my voice in general just does *not* travel. It's frustrating :P

    Thanks though - you're too kind :)
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  • Jaime Macías 8 months ago
    Awesome. Im glad the foot worked out.
  • mike ambs 8 months ago
    Thanks so much Jaime for the footage - yea, it worked out great. Don't know what I would have done with out it :P
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  • Steve Woolf 8 months ago
    poetry. and the 14 mins is really well-paced. since you inserted a few places where the information and video came at a rally fast pace it helped break up the length. I didn't even realize I'd been watching for 14 minutes.

    this is a special project.
  • mike ambs 8 months ago
    Steve :) Thanks - we were worried about the time. 14 min' is pushing a lot of people's patience when it comes to online media...

    But... really :) Amanda and I are very, very flattered that you like it.
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  • Dukeswharf 8 months ago
    May all that is Love propel you guys to where you deserve to be, amongst the stars.

    ---
    Peace & Love
  • mike ambs 8 months ago
    Thanks Dukeswharf :) you're too kind.
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  • David Howell 8 months ago
    Mike. You are a true filmmaker. I echo Steve's comment. I had no idea how long I was watching this for. You had me captured. Captured to the point that if there were any imperfections in the audio or video, I was oblivious to them.

    You are an inspiration...

    Onward you go.
  • mike ambs 8 months ago
    Hey David :)

    Wow - that's quite the compliment. Hopefully Amanda and I can keep it up :P
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  • Brian Van Peski 8 months ago
    Really sharp man! This is coming together nicely. I really like your style. Kinda of cinema vérité, very introspective feel to it. Keep it up!
  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    Thanks Brian - ok, so I had to do a wiki search for cinema vérité :P I'm so edge'a'mikated *sigh*

    But I'll have to check out some of the directors and the film that were listed under that style - might help :)

    Thanks for all the adds to your doc' channel too!
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  • VJnet 8 months ago
    Wonderful work. All the best and hope you BustB!G :) Ride on... the journey is mostly more than the destination...
  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    Ha ha :) I wouldn't hold my breath on busting big. But I'll settle for getting by :P

    Thanks for watching!
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  • sublime. i feel like a spectator with a reason.
  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    Thank you, Phil :)
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  • 1) The dog scared me
    2) you two are beautiful people
    3) I LOVE birds....these are so beautiful.


    So much of this...just eats away at my heart. And helps me realize how important life is. how vital it is to be alive...and just live, and exist.

    When I see the images.
    And When I listen to what you say,

    There's an electricity that travels throughout my body, telling me that it's really okay.

    we have nothing to lose
    and absolutely everything to gain.

  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    1) Charlie scared you? :D like in a general way, or just when she jumped up on the bed? She's a sweetheart.
    2) :P
    3) I love birds too - when I drive along Hwy 1, the seagulls like to fly along the road over the edge, it's my favorite thing to tape :)

    I don't know how I've been so lucky to have that effect - but it makes all these years of hard work and dead ends worth it. I love this line "so much of this... just eats away at my heart"...

    It is so true: we would never be able to keep going without people like you watching and saying things like this.
  • 1) when she jumped on the bed. haha. I didn't expect it.
    2) :-)~ (I don't even know what that is)
    3) chirp chirp.

    i like you mike you are good people.
  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    I like you too Karen :)
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  • assbach 7 months ago
    how cool is that DOG? :) and your voice is so great Mike.
    the video is awesome, i like that backwards playing and the blur effects. plus the slow perfect movement.
  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    Charlie *is* the best :) We got her on the road too, in North Dakota. But - we'll get into that in a future episode.

    The "perfect" in the slow moment shots are thanks to hours and hours and hours of smoothcam analysis ;) I think the last shot, took my decked out MacBook Pro 26 hours to run the filter on it (although, the master shot for that scene is a 40 min one-shot) :P
  • assbach 7 months ago
    oh REALLY?? wow, thanks for the insight. i am willing to learn these things but i dont have good equipment, would never have guessed that it's a question of rendering also. so i can quit trying and trying to do this with FCP and my daily vids, cause i neighter do 40min shots, nor do my days have 26hrs. LOL. :D
  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    Smoothcam is a filter in the newest version of FCP - it's the best invention... ever :P
  • assbach 7 months ago
    okaaayy. i MUST go thru some tuts, i'm really new to FCP. Thanks again! :)
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  • nshack 7 months ago
    This is fantastic and worthwhile. I am looking forward to more of the story with bated breath.
    P.S. I wish I was riding with you.
  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    Hey Nshack :) Thanks for watching - and thanks for waiting for more, we are hoping to get the next episode done by SXSW, but... it's going to be very difficult... so :P we'll do our best.
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  • innomind 7 months ago
    This is magnificent! Mike you have amazing story-telling gift! Your voice is enchanting and the soundtrack is a killer!
    I applaud to your genius and ability bring the story visually. And what camera work, especially when you do the 360 turn from Larry to the road. I was speechless.

    Can't wait for more!!!

    Thank you Mike
  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    Hey Innomind :)

    Your comment is great - thank you so much for leaving it. I have to admit :P I'm a dork, I've been waiting for someone to notice the moving 180 at the end - those were somewhat tricky shots to pull off :)

    We built a platform on the top of the van - and bolted a 20ft crane to the top of it... which got us a lot of funny looks :P

    Here's a pic here of it strapped down while we were stopped to eat: urltea.com/2qpb ..So you can imagine me sitting on top of the van, working this very large crane while doing 20 mph down the road.

    I'm anxious to some of the shots we have where it's up as far as it can go - it's very bird's-eye'ish :)
  • innomind 7 months ago
    Woa!!! Are you for real?? That's a huge setup for a traveling film. :) I use a Merling Steadicam (highly recommend it)
    Yeah it was 180 degree shot, my mistake. But what a shot it is... I was still under its impression I guess that's why I wrote 360 :))
    Keep up amazing us Mike

    Renat
  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    I tried to hard to get that steadicam before leaving - but I ended up having to get something else that we rarely even used :(

    Ehh 180, 360 :) whichever, ha ha - I do have a few 360's with the crane somewhere - I'll try to work them in the episodes eventually.
  • innomind 7 months ago
    Well from usability standpoint then it would definitely make sense for you to sell the crane and get Merlin instead. You could get a really long stick and hook Merlin onto it and you got a great a crane. Merlin has a deep hole right in it handle for such shots. I am so excited about Merlin that I sound like a sales rep for Tiffen :)))
    You got so many comments, I think it's becoming like a full-time job for you just to reply to them :))

    Where in America are you now guys?

    Renat
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  • Morgan Crossley 7 months ago
    I had no idea that from simply browsing through Vimeo I would stumble upon something so absolutely moving and beautiful. This really brought up some serious emotions for me. right now after watching I'm still feeling choked up.... the shot of the two best friends embracing as they go their separate ways really made an impact, and I applaud for your ability to capture such emotion.

    Stunning images, captivating soundtrack and a solid narration will all keep me watching your work. Fantastic job.
  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    Hey Morgan :) I'm glad you found our little project - and especially that it moved you.

    Yea, the day that we filmed that, even I was getting teary eyed watching them say goodbye... that was a hard day. Thanks again!
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  • Soxiam staff 7 months ago
    this is the first video i've seen on vimeo that made me pause in the middle just so i can take a breather. i stepped out of the office and stood in the corner of the building for a short while holding a cup of coffee. i was playing back what i've just seen so far in my head. when i got to the part where larry and jay were saying goodbye to each other i find myself wiping my eyes. that was unbelievable. thanks for the experience that will stay with me for a while.
  • islebehere 7 months ago
    thanks for posting to velogogo. i never would have seen it otherwise.
  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    Soxiam - I'm speechless. I really am...

    I feel very lucky - to have been able to make something that has that kind of effect on someone. I feel lucky having any effect what-so-ever to begin with :P

    You wanna' know something funny ;) when I woke up this morning I had 78 new emails in my inbox - and when I looked 73 of them were new comments on vimeo, and I thought "oh my god, the episode must have exploded" :D but it turns out that somehow, your comment got re-sent about 65 times. Ha ha.

    But I really love your comment - and yes, thanks so much for putting it on the channels so other people can stumble onto it easier. :)
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  • islebehere 7 months ago
    this was amazing. i couldn't stop watching and then i watched again. it's so real.
  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    You watched twice!? :) That's like 30 minutes of watching our stuff... I'm flattered. Thanks!

    By the way, I like your profile pic.
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  • Daniel Hayek 7 months ago
    Beautiful shots! Love it. Can we have more footage of Charlie?
  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    Hey :) Thank you - I'm really glad people are enjoying the shots so far.

    And yes :) there will be more of Charlie - we got her during the trip actually, in ND, so in the later episodes she'll get introduced as a little puppy :P

    Charlie's the best.
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  • Dan Kaufman 7 months ago
    It's a rare movie that causes tears to fall from my eyes and certainly the first Internet movie to have that impact.

    Thanks for the impact, Mike.
  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    Is it evil of me to be so happy to have made a guy cry? :) Thanks so much for watching, Dan - and being awesome and posting all the links and videos for Pedal on your site... and just being a supporter of the project. You're the best.
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  • LANHO 7 months ago
    As a documentarian myself I really loved the tone, the ryhtim, the images... would love to see the movie as a whole. Are there plans to launch as a full-lenght doc?
  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    Hey Lanho :)

    Thanks for watching - as for your question, yes there is plans... we are in the middle of that process. We did a vlog about answering this question, you can watch here if you'd like: vimeo.com/637514
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  • luis 7 months ago
    Fantastic job Mike :-)
  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    Thanks Luis :)
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  • Patrick Foran 7 months ago
    Okay, I had to request that vimeo resend my long-unused password just so I could log in and comment on this project ; ) The entire thing is very near perfect -- no wasted shots, excellent pacing, just the right tone to the narration. You absolutely have a natural eye for filmmaking -- I know it's primarily a road/biking film (strange and somewhat ironic that I persist in using that word), but some of my favorite shots were the ECUs of letters coming off the printer. It's one thing to portray a sense of majesty with wide tracking/panning shots, quite another to maintain it throughout both the expansive and the contractive, to bring a unique eye to both the headlines (biking cross-country) and the small print (backstories, narrative interruptions, candid details). Just really brilliant work. The crow shots in reverse and the quick-shot montage near the beginning are also gasp-aloud-moments. Love that you begin with the crows taking off backwards and end with the same footage played forward -- the sense of continuation and story-momentum is really powerful.

    This reminds me very strongly of a good friend who planned exactly such a trip a few years ago, but never was able to make it all come together. He had exactly the same spirit and passion about it. And it seems that one effect of great art is not only to express the passion of the artist, offering it as a shared or projected experience with the viewer ("I give you the gift of my vision"), but also to awaken emotions and experiences already present but dormant in the viewer ("I give you the gift of your own vision made new"). There is so little work in any medium that still offers such a reflective and open perspective, and this is precisely what your film does. Thanks.
  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    Hey Patrick :) Thanks for going through so much hassle just to leave a comment - I'm flattered.

    I'm glad you liked the printer shots - I was worried about that section of the episode being.. well, just boring. I actually have about 15 minutes of footage just covering my printer from different angels and corners :P

    But yea, Amanda and I are trying really hard to get more familiar with the, as you say, expansive and contractive storytelling.

    Meaning that the full length doc' will jump a lot between the wide, silent, slow-moving, peaceful and haunting memories of the road... and the little details of stories.. both personal and material. That might not make much sense... uhm, by "material", I mean "the story of the white house", for example, and recreate a history of an abandoned house Larry might have stopped to snap a picture of.

    Just cause... these are stories you create in your head when you're on the road observing every tiny little detail of your surroundings... and how they all come together.

    Thanks so much for the great comment though - I hope you keep watching. :)
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  • Steve Holt 7 months ago
    Stunning. A really wonderful piece of work. Congratulations.
  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    Thanks Steve :) Hope you keep watching!
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  • Ivan 7 months ago
    I settled with a cup of favorite icecream (lemmon sorbet) to watch/enjoy this episode. Your movie triggered memories of my best friend, Pascal, who sadly died last year in a traffic accident. Pascal made a 1000km bike trip to Lourdes (France) all alone, 5 years ago. There are few or no pictures, certainly no video, and now that he's dead, there's only the memory in my head of his words when he would talk about his adventure. Riding a bike is just a metaphor, right? Your movie is really about life, it's about how living it, giving, sharing, enjoying, meeting, and looking back. Can't wait to see the next episode.
  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    Ivan :) I have to say, I love this comment. I love picturing you sitting down with some ice cream to watch the ep', and that you shared the story of your friend... I'm very sorry to hear he's gone :(

    But thanks for this - and yes, the bike is a metaphor, very much so.
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  • MileHighFyre 7 months ago
    Wow. I'm speechless.
  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    Thanks :)
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  • bgd73 7 months ago
    hey this is great stuff. I heard mention of bar harbor, curious to know if you menat maine (there are bars in harbors in more than maine)
  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    That is true :) I meant "the" Bar Harbor, Maine. Not a random bar in a harbor in Maine :D

    Thanks for watching.
  • bgd73 7 months ago
    it is a nice place. live not far from it. You have quite a journey and challenge, look forward to new vids. Every summer at least once... I find a place to go to in the village, or even just pass through to get a look at an ocean liner. Good luck, great destination. be sure it is summer...
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  • Gerardo Aguilar 7 months ago
    Wow, this is a beautiful film, and your voice sounds great. I can't wait to see more of your work :).
  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    Hey Gerardo :) Thanks for watching - and for the friend add.
  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    Have you seen the 1st episode? vimeo.com/250349 :)
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  • peter 7 months ago
    so many things that I like about this project and this episode. The images from 5:01 and 12:10 - sticky in mind.
    Thanks and can't wait what coming.
  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    Hey Peter :) Thanks for watching - and for the comment.
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  • 3d60 7 months ago
    In april I'll be cycling with my once paralysed step father, through the outer hebrides...this inspires me to document and film our progress and journey. Thanks keep it up innit
  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    Good luck in your upcoming trip :) Do you have a site that you'll post your stories and pics on? You should bring a camera for sure - I really hope you do. I'd love to see some of your footage.
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  • mikehedge 7 months ago
    the updated version looks great!
  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    Thanks :) I need to not upload new episodes at 4 in the morning when I'm completely out of it :P
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  • M.Allen Taylor 7 months ago
    Mike,

    I'm a big fan of documentaries covering many topics. Over the years I've become very critical of how all the elements they contain, the video quality, content, story line and so on come together. I think the benchmark of a documentary is how well it brings the viewer into the experience and allows him/her to identify with some aspect of the story line on an emotional or intellectual level. I believe you are accomplishing this in your film, this episode left me looking forward to the next. I want to know, I want to experience the next, I want to ride the emotional rollercoaster of highs & lows with the now lone rider.

    It's a rare thing when a fan is given the opportunity to watch someone evolve into a master story teller. Thanks for sharing the journey.

  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    Thanks you for watching and for leaving this comment - it means a lot to me that you, being "critical", as you say :) liked these episodes and want to see more.

    As for watching people become better story tellers in filming, Amanda and I feel really strongly about sharing the experience of the filmmaking *as* it's happening. As opposed to the behind-the-scenes being thrown together by some intern editor for a bonus disc on a DVD...

    There's a real opportunity to both, build an audience of peers who would be up for seeing our film once it's finished - and also helps us learn hard lessons of story telling and everything that comes with it.

    I hope this response made sense, I'm at SXSW and I haven't slept much the last few days.
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  • Amenon 7 months ago
    Entrancing. Thought-provoking. Excellent shooting. Keep it coming. More strength to you L & J!
  • mike ambs 7 months ago
    Thanks Amenon :)

    You might be interested to know that Larry is now preparing to do a ride from Alaska to the southern most tip of South America, you can read about it here sixteenthousandmiles.com

    Hope you keep watching :)
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  • Macgregor 6 months ago
    For some reason i keep coming to project pedal to review past episodes, even when i´ve wateched them at least 5-10 times each. Something brings me here. It might be mostly admiration.
    Because as you once said, in the end, this is not about the bike. It´s about the journey.

    I hope i can meet you someday.
  • mike ambs 6 months ago
    @MacGregor: Wow :) I... I can't tell you how much it means to me when someone comes to the site, and watches an episode and leaves a comment. That kind of gratification and interaction is very rewarding to me.

    But to know that someone has come back more than once, more than twice to watch the same episodes over again - is... just the greatest compliment ever. Amanda and I are really, really flattered.

    I hope to meet you too. Hopefully sooner than later.

    By the way - I watched, on Virb, your short film, Similo, the other day and thought it was very beautiful. Loved it.

    I actually have some questions about the kit you used, I've been looking to buy a sgpro.co.uk to complete some of the filming for Pedal... but I'd like to hear more on the Cinemek.
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  • Larry McKurtis 5 months ago
    Thanks for doing it like this.
    It means a lot to Jay and I.
    Even though I don't think he's even watched it yet...
    I'm sure he's pumped.
  • mike ambs 3 months ago
    Hey Larry :) How did I miss this comment? Wtf :P It's been my pleasure. I hope Jay likes it as much as you have... I've been watching so much footage lately... I feel comfortable lost in that world... I wish I could just lock myself away and edit. I hope the end film doesn't let you down... you deserve something great.
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  • Ayz Waraich 3 months ago
    I can't believe i'm only now catching up on all of these...

    sitting here, watching this at 2AM, I'm sort of at a loss for words at how special these episodes feel to me...

    that last shot of Larry riding away, and the camera panning over... i could watch it all day...
  • mike ambs 3 months ago
    Hey Ayz :) I'm at a loss for words of how to thank you for saying that. I'm glad you like that end shot - I do too :P

    We had a large 20 foot crane strapped down to the top of the minivan (nick named, the Command Center, by Larry), and we would drive around for hours straight filming things with it. Getting bird's eye shots, 360s, etc... there's a lot of that stuff that I've been looking at the last few days. It takes me back.
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  • Zach Boyce 2 months ago
    Hey, Mike. I really like all of these Episodic memoirs reflecting on the experience. They're private and very artistic, and I was wondering if there will be any more of them in the near future?
  • mike ambs 2 months ago
    Hey Zach :) Thanks - there will be many more actually, Amanda just wrote a post on Pedal talking a little bit about this here tinyurl.com/625jqx

    Sorry we've been slow on posting the next one, we've been busy on things (we swear), I'm writing the next episode currently.
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